Ex Libris™, part of Clarivate™, is excited to announce that fourteen libraries are now Early Access testers of the new AI Metadata Assistant for the Alma library management platform. As Early Access testers library staff are taking an active role in the initial phase of development for the AI-powered solution which is being designed to help library catalogers in their work and save them time. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to these volunteers for the time and effort they dedicate to improving the community’s experience.
The AI Metadata Assistant in the Alma Metadata Editor will reduce the work needed to research and search for information, freeing catalogers’ time to tackle more complex tasks, by suggesting metadata they can use when cataloging a resource. It’ll make record creation and enrichment easier, while keeping libraries and catalogers in full control of the data in their catalog.
This collaborative approach for the development of the AI Metadata Assistant aligns with the community-driven process employed by Ex Libris across all aspects of development for Alma. Early access testers review the new functionality, ask questions, and provide feedback to ensure that the service enhancement is designed to deliver library staff value and meet their expectations.
“From the very beginning, Alma development has been shaped by the voices of our customers through a community-driven enhancement process,” commented Dana Moshkovits, Senior Director of Product Management at Ex Libris. “This approach remains central as we delve into artificial intelligence with the development of the Alma Metadata Assistant, designed to streamline tasks and enhance staff efficiency.”
The AI Metadata Assistant development is being done in phases, to ensure it aligns with cataloguing standards, community needs, and metadata quality requirements. The initial phase is scheduled to be released to all Alma customers in the first quarter of 2025, with the possibility of an earlier release depending on the results of the Early Access phase.
Further information about the AI Metadata Assistant for the Alma Metadata Editor can be found in a recent blog post. The Alma AI Metadata Enrichment for Libraries roadmap theme provides further context around AI initiatives pertaining to Alma.
Discover more about Alma and the new AI Metadata Assistant by contacting us.
